Timekeeping device



B. H. MORAN.

TIMEKEEPING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 10 I9l8.

1 3 1 5, 32 1 Patented Sept. 9, 1919;

BERNARD HENRY MORAN, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

TIMEKEEPING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

Application filed. October 10, 1918. Serial No. 257,641.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNARD H. MORAN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Camden, county of Camden, State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain Improvements in Timekeeping Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in means for checking thetime of workmen, especially those employed in large factories, andplaces where great numbers of men are employed, each workman being knownby his number rather than by his name. Heretofore it has been the usualpractice to use a badge having a number thereon, the badge being exposedto view, so that it can be readily seen by the timekeeper and theforeman in order that a record may be kept of the arrival and departureof each workman at the plant. In some establishments an additionalrecord is made while the men are at work.

This method of keeping time is defective in that reliance is placedsolely on the timekeeper. In some instances, if a man is working on abuilding, the time-keeper calls to him to give his number and, owing tothe distance, indistinct articulation, or some uncontrollable cause, thenumber is misunderstood and a mistake occurs, which results in anunpleasant argument later on and a consequent loss of time.

The main object of this invention is to eliminate errors by having eachworkman register his own number upon entering and leaving the plant, andalso during working hours, if the rules of the establishment call forit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a badge with a typenumber corresponding to the number of the badge, or with a secret numberindicatingthe number of the badge.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a badge not onlywith the type number, but also with a detachable type section indicatingthe foreman, or the location of the work being accomplished.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1, is a face view of a workmansbadge, illustrating my invention;

Fig. 2, is a rear view of the same;

Fig. 3, is a perspective view showing the detachable plate removed;

Fig. 4, is a view of a badge having the 1ndioating numeral and the typecorrespondmg to the numeral on the same face;

Fig. 5, is a face view of a modification of the invention;

Fig. 6, is a rear view of the same;

Fig. 7, is a view of a still further modification, in which the typenumber is of a different denomination from the main number of the badge;

Fig. 8, is a view of a badge having a space for the photograph of theman using the badge;

Fig. 9, is a View of a badge having duplicate type numbers;

Fig. 10, is a sectional perspective view showing type on both faces ofthe badge;

Fig. 11, is a perspective view of one form of press which ma be used incarrying out my invention; and

Fig. 12, is a view of a portion of a time strip having the workmansnumber, the foremans number and the time thereon.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a workmans badge, which may be of anyshape desired. This badge, in the present instance, has an eitension 2.The back of the badge 1s perforated, as at 3, so that it may be hung ona chain, or a cord, if desired. In many instances the badge is providedwith a pin 4 so that it may be pinned to the lapel of a coat or on someconspicuous portion of the wearing apparel. The number on the badge ispreferably made as large as possible so that it will be readilydiscernible from a distance, for,- as hereinbefore stated, the men areknown by the number on the badge rather than by name.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the badge has an extension 2 and onthis extension are type numerals 5 corresponding to the number of thebadge. This type number can be of any size, but is preferably madesmall, as it is not necessary to read this number from the badge, itbeing used only for the purpose of making an impression on a recordingstrip or tape. The type number preferably projects at the back of thebadge, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or it may be formed on the front, asillustrated in Fig. 4.

I preferably form a slideway 6 in the projection of the badge, asclearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and adapted to this slideway is a plate7 havin the foremans number or name thereon. TIiis plate is forced intothe slideway 6 and may be held by a spring catch 8, or any othersuitable device.

If the workman be transferred from one foreman to another the detachableplate 7 is removed and a plate indicating the new position, or foreman,is inserted in the slideway of the badge, so that when an impression ismade a print with not only the number of the workman wearing the badgeis registered, but also the department, or section, in which the workmanis employed is indicated.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I have illustrated a badge in which the numbersindicating the workman are formed by pressing the metal so that thenumbers will be projected on the reverse side, and, as the numbers arereversed, they form the type by which an impression is made.

In Fig. 7, I have illustrated a badge in which the type number isdifferent from the main number of the badge. This may be used, in someinstances, as a means of checking, where it is not desirable to use thenum ber indicating the workman.

In Fig. 8, I have illustrated another form of badge, in which there is aspace for a photograph, together with a number, and an extension onwhich the type numbers are formed.

The type numbers may be pressed from the metal of the badge, orindependent numbers may be secured to the badge in any suitable manner.

In some instances, where it is desired to provide a duplicatememorandum, or to provide a strip having the numbers of the men employedby certain foremen, or in a certain department, I may provide the badgewith two sets of type numbers so that two record strips are printed atthe same time, one being the record of the entire plant and the other ofthe men employed by the different foremen.

As shown in Fig. 10, I have shown the badge with one set of type numberson the face and another set on the back, and in this instance I providethe press with two sets'of tapes, one directly above the other, so thatwhen the badge is inserted in the press an impression is madesimultaneously on both tapes. In some instances, the numbers may bearranged side by side on one face only, as in Fig. 9, in which case thetapes are arranged side by side so that each tape will receive animpression. This arrangement is especially valuable where men areemployed in works having a number of foremen and where it is desired toenumerate the sets of men employed by the different foremen.

In Fig. 11, I have illustrated one form of press which may be used inmaking the impression. This press consists of a body portion 10 having afixed platen 11 located within a recess 12 in the front of the press.This recess is of such a width and height as to readily receive theprojection 2 of the badge, Fig. 1, or the entire badge, as in Fig. 6. 13is the tape on which the impression is made and this tape is wound uponspools contained in the receptacles 1-"1 at each side of the press. 15is the inking ribbon which passes around the rolls in the receptacles 16of the press. 17 is the movable impression member depressed by an arm 18and elevated by a spring 19. This press can be carried by thetime-keeper in his hand when going from one portion of the plant toanother, or

it can be mounted on a fixed support at the entrance and exit gates. Itwill be understood that this form of press constitutes no part of mypresent invention and is merely shown so that the use of my inventioncan be more readily understood.

The system is carried out in the following manner 2-1Vhen a man isemployed as a workman he is given a badge with a number thereon and thisnumber is entered opposite his name on the companysbooks. After this heis known by his number, which is used on the pay sheet and on the payenvelop. In many establishn'ients, the general practice is to recordeach day the number of the work man when he arrives and when he leaves,by means of a time recording instrument. The time-keeper writes thenumber on the time sheet as the workman passes his window. IVhere alarge force is employed they crowd past the window and in numerousinstances the time-keeper makes a mistake in writing down the numbers.This leads to confusion and to unnecessary arguments on pay day.Furthermore, in some establishments, in addition to recording thearrival and departure of the men, the time-keeper makes his rounds oncein the morning and once in the afternoon, making a record of all workmenwhile actually at work. This is a double checking and prevents a workmanfrom leaving his work surreptitiously.

By the old system of check the timekeeper made his entry from the numberon the badge and if he made a mistake or omitted a number the workmanwould not receive his pay for that days work, even though he was on thejob.

By my invention, the workman himself causes the impression to be made onthe timekeepers strip in the press. The press may be provided with aclock so that the time the impression is made is registered, as well asthe workmans number. A special type may be actuated by the clockmechanism for making an impression indicating the time at the same timethe workman is making the impression on the time slip with his badge, asindicated in Fig. 12.

The operation i repeated on a similar press when the workman leaves theplant.

When the time-keeper makes his rounds during the day he takes With hima, portable press and each Workman must insert his badge in the press inorder that an impression may be made and a double record kept. Therecord is not made by the time-keeper, but through the instrumentalityof the Workmen themselves. Therefore, the Workman is more liable toaccept the printed statement on the record slips and on the time sheet,when the impression is made by himself, than if made by another person,and the time-keeper is relieved of a responsibility and no controversyshould occur.

By having the number on the badge, as well as the type number, thetime-keeper can check the impression by looking at the number on the tagand reading the record made by the press, although this is notabsolutely necessary, but it prevents tampering With the badge. 1

While I have described my invention as a Workmans badge, it will beunderstood that the term is used in its broadest sense.

, It can be used Wherever a large number of men are employed and Wherean accurate record must be kept.

Although I have used numerals, it Will be understood that an othercharacters may be used, but Where a iarge number of men are employed,many of Whom are foreigners, numerals are preferable, since they aremore readily comprehended.

I claim:

1. A Workmans badge having a character indicating the Workman; and aform of type corresponding to the character on the badge, so thatarecord can be made by each Workman on a record strip through the mediumof the badge.

2. A Workmans badge having an indicating number on one face and having acorresponding type number on the other face, said type number beingformed so that an impression can be made therefrom on a record strip.

3. A Workmans badge having on one face a numeral indicating the numberof the Workman and also having a type number corresponding to the numberof the Workman and having a character indicating his foreman or thecharacter of Work performed.

4. A Workmans badge having an indicating number thereon and having anextension, one portion of the extension having type numerals thereoncorresponding to the number of the badge and having a detachableindicating plate designating the foreman or the character of the Workperformed by the Workman Wearing the badge.

5. A Workmans badge having a large indicating number on one face andhaving an extension With a smaller type number thereon corresponding tothe number of the badge and having a slideWay; and a detachable plateadapted to the slidevvay, said plate having type indicating other data.

6. A Workmans badge having an indicating numeral and. having tWoprinting type numerals, Which may make impressions on tWo independentstrips of material.

7. A Worlnnansbadge having an indicating numeral thereon and having anumeral on one face in the form of type and also having a numeralon theopposite face in the form of type so that two impressions can be made.

In Witness whereof I affix my signature.

BERNARD HENRY MORAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for the cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

